Advertising device.



T. H. BARRON. ADVERTISING- DEVICE. APPLICATION nun APR. 1, 1901.

978, 1 30. Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

33 5g. 3. f7 65' I I a; w

I e 1 I I I I I f) T. H. BARRON. ADVERTISING DEVICE. APPLICATION nunAPR. 1, 1907.

Patented Dec.13,1910.

2 BHEBTHHEET 2.

THOMAS H. BARRON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

. ADVERTISING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters ]?a.tent. Patented Dec; 13, 1910.

Application filed. April 1, 1907. Serial No. 365,724.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. BARRON, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the countyand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Inprovements in Advertising Devices, of whlch the following is a secification.

This invention re ates generally to advertising devices, and moreparticularly to means for continuously advancing in an 1rregular andendless path, a series of incandescent electric lamps withoutinterruption in the supply of the feed-current.

I am aware that such lamps have been mounted upon rigid bodies, such asa wheel or other revolving element, and the current supplied from astationary source. This invention, however, has in view a carriage forthe lamps which is not rigid but which may be made to conform to thedeviations of an irregular path.

The general object of the invention is to present a novel form ofmovement of a plurality of lights, of the same or different colors, forthe purpose of attracting and holding the attention of individuals.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which-Figure 1 shows in partly sectional elevation the front or entrance of abuilding, such as used as an amusement resort, showing the construction,purpose and application of one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a topplan view of the lamp-carrier and lamps as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section through the lower part of Fig. 1, the wiring andconnections being shown diagrammatically; Fig. 4 shows in elevation atdifferent application of my invention; Fig. 5 is a central, horizontalsection, and Fig. (5 a transverse cross-section, thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3,numeral 11 re fers to a door or entrance frame which for the purposes ofthis description is shown of arched form. This frame is so mounted inthe front or wall of the building as to provide a correspondingly-shapedslot or groove 12 around the exterior thereof. This groove provides apassage which is made endless through the connecting channel 13 in thefloor or sidewalk 14. At each lower corner of the frame 11 are therollers 15 and 16, journaled in suitable bearings, the roller 16 havingan elongated axle 17 upon which is fixed the pulley 18, driven from anysuitable source of power by the belt 19 or in any other desired manner.

Corresponding in configuration to the arched portion of the groove 12,and correspondingly-positioned within the frame or behind the frontthereof is the strip 20, which approximates in width the width of theflexible belt employed, as hereinafter described, and provides a trackor guide upon which said belt may slide. This belt 21 may be made fromany suitable or usual material, such as canvas or leather, and ismounted in endless form upon said track 20 and around the rollers 16 and15. It will be apparent that when in this position the plane oftheexterior face of said belt will correspond substantially with the planeof the interior edge of the groove 12.

Upon the exterior face of the belt 21, transversely disposed atpreferably equal distances from each other, are suitably secured aplurality of preferably wooden bars or braces 22 22, and to the end ofeach brace 22 contiguous to the groove 12, is suitably fixed an electriclamp socket 23. These strips and sockets are so positioned andadjl'lsted that when the ordinary electric incandescent lamps 241 aremounted in said sockets, at least the major portion of each lamp-bulbprojects through the groove 12.

For the purpose of supplying electric energy to the lamps, I constructthe roller 15 of two parts separated by a suitable insulation 25, one ofsaid parts (as, for example, the part 2(5) being in electrical contactwith the shaft or axle 27 and the other part 28 being mounted upon butinsulated from said axle. The current may be supplied from any suitablesource of electric energy, one of the feed-wires 29 being in electricalcontact with the axle 27 and the other wire 30 terminating in a brush orspring-pressed contact 31, continuously pressing against the roller-part28.

On the interior face of the belt 21, and suitably insulated therefrom,are the parallel and longitudinally disposed conductor-strips 32 and 33,preferably of copper on account of the high degree of conductivity ofthis metal, the strip 32, as said belt advances, being held by. tensionof the latter continuously againstthe insulated roller-part 28, and thestrip 33 being in similar continuous electric contactwith theroller-part 26. I

I have shown the lamps 24 mounted in series, although it will be obviousthat any other desired form or wiring and mountlng may be employed, withthe terminal 34 permanently connected to the strip 34 and the terminal35 similarly connected to the strip 32..

The cross-rods or braces 22 may, if desired, each be provided with smallanti-frio tion rollers 36, 36, to reduce friction as the belt 21 iscarried over the arched track 20, and to support the belt in the channel13 and prevent sagging which might be sufiicient to permit contactbetween the lamp-bulbs and the bottom-wall of the channel.

It will be apparent, of course, that where the construction of thebuilding will permit, the groove 12 may terminate at each end in anaperture in the fioor, beneath which the belt will be carried withoutnecessity for the provision of the channel 13.

It will be seen that I have provided an endless flexible carrier, whichmay be driven by rotation of the pulley or roller 16, and which carriesthe series of firmly mounted and relatively positioned electric lamps ina circuit which is always closed, irrespective of the position ormovement of the carrier. This carrier may be advanced at a moderate rateof speed with the lamps continuously glowing. With the carrierconcealed, the lights will be continuously in view during their upwardmovement, movement over the arch and subsequent downward movement, atthe end of which they will pass into the channel 18 or under the floorand remain out of sight until they reappear at the other side of theentrance.

It will be apparent that my invention may be applied with equal successto an ordinary advertising sign, as indicated in Fig. 4, wherein isshown the provision of a similar groove 87 surrounding the letteredportion of the frame, which has rollers or pulleys suitably mounted ateach corner thereof. One thereof (as, for instance, the pulley or roller38) is similarly provided with a driving-pulley 45. The arrangement ofthe con ducting-strips 47 and 48 upon the belt 39, and the mounting ofthe lamps on the braces or bars 46, is precisely the same as shown inthe previously-described form of my invention. In Fig. 5, however, Ihave shown a slightly diiferent form of electrial connection, the rollerparts 40 and 41 being,in-'

sulated from each other and from the axle 42, the current being suppliedto each through the contact-brushes 43 and 44 respectively.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. The combination of a flexible carrier mounted to travel in an endlesspath, a source of electric energy and an electric circuit, a part ofsaid circuit being mounted upon and movable with said carrier andincluding a plurality of electric lamps mounted upon said carrier, and apart of said circuit being stationary and in continuous electrical contact with the movable part of said circuit, means for continuouslyadvancing said carrier, and a suitable casing inclosing all of saidparts except the luminous bulbs of said lamps which alone project fromsaid casing.

2. The combination, with an electric circuit, of an endless beltcarrying conductors in said circuit, a series of electric lamps fixedupon said belt and in said circuit through said conductors, suitablecontacts connected to a source of electric energy and continuously incircuit with said conductors, means for advancing said belt, and a suitable casing inclosing all of said parts except the luminous bulbs ofsaid lamps which alone project from said casing.

3. The combination, with an electric circuit, of an endless beltcarrying conductors in said circuit, a series of electric lamps mountedupon and projecting edgewise in said belt and in said circuit throughsaid conductors, suitable contacts connected to a source of electricenergy and continuously in circuit with said conductors, means foradvancing said belt, and a suitable casing inclosing all of said partsexcept the luminous bulbs of said lamps which alone project from saidcasing.

In testimony of the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand in thepresence of two witnesses.

THOMAS H. BARRON.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH DUNN, JOHN E. JUDGE.

